GoKawiilAT&T is overhauling its mobile lineup with a fresh set of "2.0" unlimited plans, offering a rare price drop for current subscribers. While the new Value and Extra tiers are point-blank cheaper than the versions they replace, the Premium 2.0 option actually sees a base price hike, though there is a catch that makes it a better deal than it looks.
With significant rate increases hitting older, legacy plans this month, even the more expensive new tiers may end up saving you money compared to staying put. Navigating these changes now is the best way to dodge the upcoming price jumps and ensure you aren't overpaying for your monthly data. Here is the breakdown of the new 2.0 lineup and how to tell if it's time for you to switch.
These plans replace the AT&T Value Plus VL, Unlimited Extra EL and Unlimited Premium PL plans. However, the carrier also removed its Unlimited Starter SL plan, which served as the entry-level plan (you had to know where to look to find the limited, but cheaper, Value Plus VL plan).
If you're looking to upgrade your existing AT&T plan, shopping for a new provider or looking to compare carriers, keep in mind that AT&T plans let each person on an account have their own plan. So you might set up a package where one person has the Premium 2.0 plan for unthrottled 5G speeds and another, such as a child, is set up with the Value 2.0 plan to save money.
Also, if you're on a current AT&T plan, you won't be automatically moved to one of the new plans. If you do want to make the jump, you'll incur a line activation fee of up to $50. And keep in mind that the pricing below is the AutoPay amount; carriers provide a discount (usually $10) if you sign up for automatic payments.
One nice change is that the new plans are priced with round numbers. For example, the Value Plus VL plan was priced at $50.99 for one line, and the Value 2.0 plan is $50 (in comparisons below, I've rounded up the old prices to full-dollar amounts). Taxes and fees get added on top of that, so you'll never see a round-number bill, but I'd like to think it's a quiet acknowledgement that pricing things one penny below a larger number is insulting to customers.
Let's dig into the details.
Choose from AT&T's mobile plans. Jeff Carlson/CNET
Value 2.0, the budget plan
The Value 2.0 plan replaces both the Value Plus VL plan and the retired Unlimited Starter SL plan and costs $50 a month for a single line or $120 a month when you have four lines on the account. That's $1 per line cheaper than Value Plus VL.
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